Laughable: SCAB and its "austere" Vegan

I have the mixed pleasure and pain of seeing a vast amount of local Los Angeles theater. Last night was painful. Putting aside this particular production I knew the play itself was irredeemable when one character launches into a monologue of "I'm austere... I'm a vegan... I floss twice a day while I listen to NPR, I only use raw honey in my tea...."

Now, there are lots of productions that open and soon close in tiny theaters in LA and never again see the light of day. If SCAB had been one of those, I wouldn't bother with even mentioning it. BUT this play by Sheila Callaghan has actually won awards with such trite dialogue and has been produced over and over again on more than one continent, and as such deserves a fair share of mockery.

1) In more than 13 years as a vegan, I've never met an "austere" fellow vegan. It's possible one exists, but like any tired stereotype, there may be an outlier or two somewhere in the world. Regardless, it's hack writing to fall back on the same old cliché about vegans one more time as a shortcut to actually writing real characters.

2) Vegans don't eat honey. It's an animal product. For future reference, we also don't eat sea creatures, cow flesh, chicken flesh, pig flesh, baby cow food, embryonic chicken food.... We do, however, eat all kinds of delicious plant-based food from gourmet dining to delightfully schlocky treats.

3) Yes, some vegans listen to NPR, but rehashing the stereotype that vegans are all middle class, white and have graduate degrees (as was the case with the character who announced his "vegan" status) is about as interesting and/or true as saying all gay men swish. I prefer my Vegan Freak Radio over Morning Edition any day.